The Lagos State Government has demolished more than 200 illegal shanties and dislodged criminal hideouts in a large-scale clearance operation around Apapa Road, Ijora, and Costain under bridges.
The enforcement exercise, coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, was part of ongoing efforts to restore environmental order, reclaim public spaces, and enhance security across key transport corridors in the state.
During the operation, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) uncovered a dummy firearm and other dangerous items hidden inside makeshift structures beneath the Costain Bridge — a discovery authorities described as alarming and indicative of criminal activities in the area.
Hon. Giwa condemned the illegal settlements, describing them as a “monumental affront to public decency and public safety,” adding that the government would not tolerate any form of lawlessness in vital infrastructural zones that support the city’s economy.
He said the operation was aimed at curbing traffic robberies, dismantling drug peddling spots, and removing abandoned vehicles and unauthorized garages that had been converted into criminal hideouts.
“No responsible government would allow its public infrastructure to become breeding grounds for crime and environmental degradation,” Giwa stated.
He also warned that those displaced by the clearance exercise should not attempt to return to the cleared sites, emphasizing that any violators would face strict sanctions.
The multi-agency operation involved personnel from LAWMA, KAI, LAMATA, LASTMA, and the Nigeria Police Force, who jointly cleared refuse, removed derelict vehicles, and demolished illegal structures under the affected bridges.
Giwa commended the collaboration among the agencies and urged residents to support the government’s efforts to build a safer and more livable city.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration remains steadfast in its commitment to creating a cleaner, safer, and more habitable Lagos that truly reflects the vision of a 21st-century megacity,” he said.
The clearance exercise forms part of the state’s broader urban renewal and environmental restoration agenda, which seeks to protect public infrastructure, enhance security, and preserve the aesthetic and functional integrity of Lagos’s transportation corridors.
About The Author
